Justice Department limits seized-asset sharing with local, state police

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Attorney General Eric Holder announced changes to the federal asset-forfeiture program that allowed local and state law enforcement to seize assets without legal cause.

Since 2008, local and state law enforcement agencies nationwide have used the program, called Equitable Sharing, to seize more than $3 billion in cash and property. Equitable Sharing allows local law enforcement to seize assets in accordance with federal law and turn the assets over to the federal government. The government then sells the assets and returns up to 80 percent of the proceeds back to the local agency.

The program has come under increased scrutiny from groups that view it as discriminatory and overreaching. In early January, lawmakers called on the Justice Department to end Equitable Sharing, saying it was creating "improper incentives" for local and state law enforcement property seizure.